New Pittsburgh Courier

Why bias puts young gays' health at risk

Category: Health Written by CNN

UCLA Physician Tumaini Rucker Coker, MD, MBA notes that gay youth are three times more likely to partake in substance abuse, and that adolescents who said they felt stigmatized -- for example, in the form of family rejection -- are five times more likely to experience depression.

by Rob Stephenson

(CNN) -- When I was 8, I joined the Boy Scouts. I lasted three weeks--couldn't get the hang of all that knot tying, and no one was interested in singing show tunes around the campfire.

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Last Updated on Monday, 03 June 2013 10:18

The Wise Decision...6 nutrition secrets for flat abs

Category: Health Written by Sterling Wise

STERLING WISE

As much as I love exercise (and you know I do!) exercise alone will not get you a toned stomach.

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Last Updated on Friday, 31 May 2013 17:56

UnitedHealthcare middle school Health Bee

Category: Health Written by Courier Newsroom

TEAM MCKEESPORT YMCA—From left: Nizhae Adams, 14; Ladasha Brownfield, 14; Aimani Jones, 12; Zevian Andrews, 11; Jhayla Bray, 11; and Edward McKissick, 12, as they competed in the Health Game. (Photos by J.L. Martello)

In the first UnitedHealthcare Health Bee held in Pennsylvania, middle school students from eight YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh branches competed against one another in a Jeopardy-style competition focused on nutrition, fitness, health and science.

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Last Updated on Thursday, 30 May 2013 14:51

Many say Angelina Jolie’s actions were too extreme

Category: Health Written by Ashley N. Johnson - Courier Staff Writer

ANGELINA JOLIE (AP Photo/File)

Angelina Jolie is used to creating a buzz in the entertainment world, but now she has crossed over into the health care field with her recent announcement in a New York Times op-ed article. On May 14, in the op-ed “My Medical Choice,” Jolie announced that she had underwent a preventative double mastectomy after undergoing genetic testing and finding that she had a mutation of the BRCA 1 gene, which significantly increases her risk of developing breast cancer.

In her op-ed, Jolie wrote, “My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman. Only a fraction of breast cancers result from an inherited gene mutation. Those with a defect in BRCA1 have a 65 percent risk of getting it, on average. Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventative double mastectomy. I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex.”

Jolie underwent the mastectomy, which is the partial or complete surgical removal of one or both breasts, in her case both, then had reconstructive surgery.

While many are praising her for her preventative measures, others disagree with her actions, calling them extreme.

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Last Updated on Thursday, 23 May 2013 15:47

Courier, Urban League and Pitt CTSI sponsor community health forum

Category: Health Written by Courier Newsroom

KEYNOTE SPEAKER DR. JEANNETTE E. SOUTH-PAUL

The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, the Clinical Translational Science Institute and the New Pittsburgh Courier hosted a Community Health Forum at the Thelma Lovette YMCA, 2114 Centre Ave., in the Hill District recently.
The topic was “Take Charge of Your Health Today. Be Informed. Be Involved.” Dr. Jeannette E. South-Paul was the keynote speaker. There was an overview on the health status of African-Americans in Allegheny County, a community health panel and more. There was also a question-answer session and light refreshments.

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